This project is part of the Black History Month celebration because it supports a Black teacher or a school where the majority of the students are Black.
Can there be one activity that encompasses science, math, literacy, social studies and oral language development, all while improving fine motor skills? Yes! Cooking does all that and more! I currently teach Kindergarten in a high-need, urban, New York charter school and I also lead a young gastronomists (food enthusiasts) extracurricular club with middle school students at the same school.
Typically, to do cooking activities at school I lug in everything I need from home or from other people's homes as they let me borrow items such as bowls, mixing spoons, measuring cups, and more. I do this often as I know that preparing food reinforces so many skills from counting to identifying their senses. When partnered with a story such as that of Johnny Appleseed, cooking can cross curricular lines and more than double the impact of learning. I also always use healthy foods. In a neighborhood with up to three or more fast food establishments on every block and nearly 100% of the students on free or reduced lunch and breakfast, it is urgently important that they are all trying healthy foods and developing smart eating habits at young ages.
With some basic cooking materials such as mixing bowls, spoons, an electric skillet, and some safe food choppers, along with four food group play food baskets, my students, both in the classroom and in my cooking club, can benefit greatly. With the food preparation materials at hand I will be able to incorporate cooking more often and student interest in learning and healthy eating will increase exponentially! I've experienced the joy of seeing a student, who one day turns their nose up at eating a vegetable, later showing me proudly how he's eating his veggies after having made a salad in the classroom while wearing Peter Rabbit bunny ears. I've seen the amazed look on a preteen's face as they try a salmon canape they thought they'd detest, but were willing to taste it after personally preparing it and discovered it was delicious! You can help make these experiences continue to happen and occur more often!
Your donation will make it possible for my students, and students for years to come, to have hands on, real life, learning experiences with food that cross curricular boundaries and make an impact that will effect them for the rest of their lives! My students and I look forward to showing you our culinary skills in thank you photos!
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Clagnaz and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
